The rare comeback of the Yankees: from 2-0 down to series winners
In short: In 2017, the New York Yankees pulled off a feat that only a few teams in history have achieved. After falling behind two games to zero against the Cleveland Indians, they staged a dramatic three-game turnaround. It was a masterclass in momentum, high-leverage pitching, and late-inning drama.
The 2017 American League Division Series (ALDS) featured a historic comeback by the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians. Following two initial losses, the Yankees joined only seven franchises to overcome a 2-0 deficit within a division series since 1995 saw the wild-card format debut. They joined an elite group of teams that have accomplished this twice in a single Division Series, alongside the Boston Red Sox.
The road back began in Game 3, where Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka threw seven shutout innings using his signature splitter to neutralize Cleveland's hitters. While the Indians threatened in late innings, relievers David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman preserved the scoreless tie until Aaron Judge scored on a home run in the seventh. The series moved to Cleveland for Game 5, where Didi Gregorius homered in back-to-back at-bats to give New York an early lead.
The finale was defined by late-inning tension. In the bottom of the ninth, with the Indians trailing 5-2, Brett Gardner hit a clutch RBI single following a 12-pitch at-bat. The Yankees secured the win when Aroldis Chapman struck out Austin Jackson to seal the series. This victory marked Cleveland's final playoff win under the 'Indians' name before they rebranded to the Guardians.
Simultaneously, the Houston Astros were establishing their own dynasty in the other ALDS bracket. The Astros secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Boston's Red Sox, highlighted by Jose Altuve becoming the first player from that club to launch three home runs during one postseason match. The Astros would eventually go on to win the 2017 World Series, securing their first-ever MLB title.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2017 American League Division Series
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